Diabetic Retinopathy: Diagnosis and Treatment

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy depends on the severity and the type of retinopathy a person has. (mayoclinic.com) Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy usually does not need any treatment plan. But it does need continuous monitoring by an eye specialist to keep tabs on its progression. Most of the time, with tight control of blood sugar the progression can be delayed and maintained. But advanced or proliferative diabetic retinopathy does need treatment plans or sometimes surgical intervention depending on its severity.

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Diagnostic procedures for determining the severity of diabetic retinopathy include fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Fluorescien angiography, or photography of the retina, consists of an injection of contrast material through the veins of the arm which dyes the eyes. Once the eyes are dyed, images of the parts of the eyes are taken to analyze the severity and damage to the blood vessels and retina. A treatment plan will then be considered depending on the severity. OCT is a procedure in which cross sectional images of the retina are taken in order to determine the leakage into the retinal tissue and vitreous (middle of the eye). A treatment plan is then determined accordingly.

Focal Laser Treatment or Photocoagulation:
1. is a procedure that slows or stops the leakage of the abnormal blood vessels inside the eye.
2.The blood vessels are treated with the laser.
3. Usually one single session is needed for the treatment.
4. Patients experience blurred vision for at least one day after the treatment.
5. Small spots may appear in the field of vision that disappear within a few weeks.
6. Focal laser treatment is done mostly in a doctor's office or eye clinic.

Scatter Laser Treatment or Panretinal Photocoagulation:
1. is done to shrink the abnormal blood vessels.
2. is usually done in the doctor's office or clinic.

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